（原文）
CENTRAL CHINA FAMINE RELIEF.
The Central China Famine Relief Committee is hard at work devising ways and means towards a permanent solution of the famine problem in Central China.In this work it is enlisting the support of everybody whose practical experience or advice is likely to be in the least degree useful.At present the political situation makes it difficult to do much， but preparations are being made for aggressive work as soon as order and peace are restored in the affected area.In the meantime what can be done is being done.During the past month Professor Bailie of Nanking， who has the combined advantages of a thorough knowledge of China， its people and its language，wide business experience in the country， and tactical knowledge of colonization and agricultural problems in North America， has put forward a scheme for the permanent relief of famine refugee families.
The following brief explanation of the scheme is condensed from a letter dated 17th December from Mr.Bailie to the Central China Relief Committee.
A tract of land is to be cleared， drained and prepared for dry farming by famine refugee labors working in gangs under supervision.
The men employed on this work will be closely watched and the land being ready， a selection from them will be made of the most suitable who, together with their families， will be put in tentative occupation of farms of from twenty to fifty mow in area with the prospect， it they prove industrious and honest， of becoming in the first place the settled tenants and secondly of being able to add to the original area.
Their families are to be assisted till the first crop is harvested and thereafter are expected to support themselves and in addition to pay taxes sufficient to meet any government tax on the property as a whole and interest on the money expended on giving them their start until the latter is repaid.
There is provision to enable the tenants to pay a large portion of these taxes in labour instead of cash in case the latter should be found too heavy a burden at the start.
The sum expended would be a first charge on the farm so that they would be secured against a defaulting tenant until such time as the money is repaid, which would be done by progressive installments.
An area of two hundred mow or thereabouts is to be retained by the Management of the Colony and worked as an experimental and model farm.
The numerous excellent points of the scheme briefly outlined above may be summarized thus：
(1)—Permanent betterment of the families settled on the farms.
(2)—Provision of useful labour for famine refugees.
(3)—Gradual removal of families from are as liable to famine as the scheme develops.
(4)—Consequent increase in the general prosperity of district dealt with.
Having carefully considered Mr.Bailie's letter， the Central China Famine Relief Committee at a meeting on 22nd December passed the following resolution：
Resolved：that the Secretary should correspond with Mr.Bailie to the following effect：
1.—That thisCommittee cordially supports the idea of settling one hundred refugee families on land as outlined in Mr.Bailie's letter.
2.—That for the support of one hundred families whilst the land is being prepared and for implements， etc.，this Committee hereby votes the sum of $5,000.00.
No money， however， is to be paid till the Committee has evidence that the land has been procured and the scheme can be proceeded with.
Mr.Bailie estimates that a sum of $2,000.00 will put him in a position to satisfy the Committee in terms of the above quoted resolution and it is to obtain this sum or as much as possible that a Gala Performance at the Shanghai Lyceum on 12th February is being arranged.
The sum obtained will be handed over to the Central China Famine Relief Committee earmarked for this special purpose and will thus be absolutely safeguarded.
Anybody interested in this scheme，which is here only briefly outlined， can obtain further information from any member of the Committee, who will be very pleased indeed to receive any such enquiries.
The eleventh list of subscriptions issued by the Committee shews totals of $54,787.06 and Tls.77,683.23 received for the general fund， subscriptions to which may be sent either to the Treasurer， Central China Famine Relief Committee; or to the International Banking Corporation， Shanghai.
（译文）
华中地区饥荒赈济
华洋义赈会正在努力设计应对华中地区饥荒问题的永久性解决方案。此项工作寻求可能的支持，即便他们的实际经验和建议可能用处不大。目前的政治形势使得很难做更多事，但为积极进取的工作进行的准备正在进行，一旦秩序与和平在受影响地区恢复，在此期间，能做些什么就做什么。过去的一个月里，南京的裴义理教授，提出了一个赈济灾民家庭的永久性救助方案。他具有种种综合性的优势，对中国、中国人和汉语有深入了解，在中国有大量经营业务，熟悉北美垦殖和农业策略。
以下简要说明这一方案，摘自12月17日贝利给义赈会的来信。
一大片土地应被清理并排干，进行旱作，聚集部分灾民在监督下集体劳作。
雇佣的人员应被密切观察，土地已经准备就绪，将从他们当中选择出最合适的人，连同他们的家人一起，入选试验农场，面积约20至50亩，给予其机会，如果他们证明自己勤劳可靠，就可以首先成为定居佃户，其次可扩大原来面积。
对他们家庭的帮扶直到第一个收获期，之后希望其自足自给。此外，需缴纳政府财产税以及支付最初投资的利息，直到利息也能被偿还。
并规定，佃户可用劳力而不是现金抵税，以免在最初造成过重负担。
花费将是农场首先收取的，这样他们就可以向违约佃户提供担保，直至通过分期付款还清款项。
保留200亩左右土地由殖民当局管理，并做实验示范农场。
上述方案种种优点是：
（1）定居农场的家庭得到永久改善。
（2）利用饥民作为有用劳力。
（3）随着计划的推行，逐步消除易遭受饥荒的家庭。
（4）促进相关地区的普遍繁荣。
经过仔细考虑裴义理先生的来信，义赈会在12月22日的会议上通过了以下决议：
决议：由秘书联系裴义理先生作以下回复：
1．本会热诚支持裴义理先生来函中解决100个灾民家庭土地的设想。
2．为资助100个家庭，需准备土地，并作好实施准备。本会在此表决通过提供5000美元。
直到有证据显示已购买土地，该计划可实施时，义赈会才能支付资金。
为筹得2000美元的款项用于买地，裴义理先生决定尽可能多地通过安排上海兰心剧院2月12日的晚会演出筹得。所取得的款项将交由义赈会指定为特别用途，并提供绝对保障。
这里只是简要概述， 任何对该计划感兴趣的人，可以从义赈会的任何成员那里获得进一步资料，他们将非常高兴收到任何此类问询。
义赈会的第11期捐助款总计54787.06美元，77683.23英镑作为普通基金。捐款可被送到义赈会财务部，或上海的国际银行团。